Vocal Recording: 1 take vs. punch-ins?

[Jack Russell]

This has always been a problem for me. I have a bit of a pitchy voice, and I struggle with it. Thus, I will do a vocal take of a song all the way through, and then I'll play it back, notice that I suck in various places, then I'll punch in the lines that missed. This process can take hours.

Yet, a friend of mine insists that I need to put down the track control and re-record each entire take until it is right.

What do you do?

 

[sowpunk]

I use the whole vocal track for my own band. Mainly because my singer prefers to do it that way and he has an awesome voice and is a pleasure to work with.

When recording other bands I might get them to re-do a whole verse or chorus but I'd never punch in a word or even a line for that matter.

 

[Track Rat]

Many times (especially if I see the vocalist is struggling) is record two or three complete vocal passes and make a comp of that.

 

[mshilarious]

I record everything line by line. Instruments too. It's because I suck

 

[AGCurry]

I've done it both ways.

Sometimes I make demo recordings for choral music, and I have to read sheet music. In that case, I'll take it section by section 'cause I'm not a perfect sight reader.

Most of the time, though, I'll record the whole song. If fixes are needed, we'll redo sections.

 

[Dogman]

I try and get it all done in one take...it just makes it easier for me.

 

[gummblefish]

I do everything one take live. If i dont get it, i sell the song, change my name and move house.

 

[Greg_L]

i use lots of punch-ins because i suck at singing. never just one word or syllable, but ill punch-in a line or vocal segment. sometimes ill even wait till the next day to do them just to get away from it for a while. thats just how it works for me.

 

[Jack Russell]

Granted that really good singers can avoid mistakes in an entire performance, a lot of singers will cringe at their own minor 'goofs' even though to someone else the part sounds fine.

So, if you are the one doing the recording and the singing, then you are probably more inclined to redo a line or two.

The down side is that the levels might not be precisely the same if you punch in, especially if you come back on a different day.

How often do you record something, feel it was special, then a day later it suddenly sounds a bit ugly?

 

[Greg_L]

How often do you record something, feel it was special, then a day later it suddenly sounds a bit ugly?

every time.

 

[scrubs]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's the finished product that counts. There will always be a compromise between the technical aspect of the performance and the artistic component. Getting the best blend of "feel" and "correctness" is what you should be shooting for.

For me, on my vocals, I generally do several takes and pick the best one, and/or comp together the best sections of each take. I would try to do it all in one session, because your voice, room, equipment settings, etc. will be most consistent that way.

 

[Jack Russell]

i use lots of punch-ins because i suck at singing. never just one word or syllable, but ill punch-in a line or vocal segment. sometimes ill even wait till the next day to do them just to get away from it for a while. thats just how it works for me.

I sucketh also.

I'll even lay down three different tracks of the same vocal part, and listen to them later. Then I go back to it days later to punch in phrases. Then I'll combine the best parts of the three tracks.

Then I realize I still suck and then I get depressed and quit for a month.

Then I start the whole cycle again. After buying more electronic gear.

 

[Track Rat]

The cold light of day always reveals the warts.

 

[RAMI]

I usually sing the whole track all the way through until I pretty much like the overall feel and pitch of most of it. Then punch in what needs to be re-done.

 

[Jack Russell]

The cold light of day always reveals the warts.

True. It is almost bizarre, isn't it?

I've read somewhere that the ears function like muscles. If they work too long, with loud sound levels, then the muscles get tired, and your hearing isn't 'true' anymore.

Maybe that is it?

Unless, of course, you were using gin for inspiration the night before. Then you can blame the booze.

 

[Track Rat]

True. It is almost bizarre, isn't it?

I've read somewhere that the ears function like muscles. If they work too long, with loud sound levels, then the muscles get tired, and your hearing isn't 'true' anymore.

Maybe that is it?

Unless, of course, you were using gin for inspiration the night before. Then you can blame the booze.

All of the above.

 

[Elton Bear]

Record all in one go. Re-do the whole thing if there any *major* problems. However, I do occasionally punch-in if the whole take is really high quality apart from one part... 'twould be a shame to lose all that, after all.

 

[Dogbreath]

I'll do several takes and comp my best ones. I'll do em all in the same setting too so my settings are all the same.

I've also gone back in a day or a week and found that my comped version still sucked. So.....I'll go back and do it all over again.

Eventually I'll get something that doesn't suck.


maybe...

 

[Nakatira]

I do a little of each.

If its a song with loads of energy and screaming, I sometimes find it easy to do it in several sections to keep it all at the same level.

My first music computer was 166mhz with turtle beach studios soundcard.
I remember my machine couldent record straight for more than up to 1 minute at the time.
So this gave me great experience in chopping lines up ,guitars and everything.

as long as it sounds great I`d say go with what makes you happy

 

[episg]

i tend to dessicrate the singer who fucks up with a machine gun.